Notching machine



p 0, 1949. e. H. NORQUIST 2,482,121

' NOTCHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1944 v 3 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR.6121111 If flarymsf Sept. 20, 1949. a. H. NORQUIST NOTCHING MACHINE 3Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Filed 001. 3, 1944 INVENTOR.

filenn if. Jlarywtis/ M a. M

K] TTOIP/VEY Patented Sept. 2 0, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT F FICE f2,482,121 a a .4

,NOTCHING MACHINE I Glenn H. Norquist, Jamestown, N. Y. ApplicationOctober 3, 1944, Serial No- 557,021, 1

19 Claims.

This invention relates. to notching machines,v I

and more particularly to an improved machine for notching and crimpingmetal clad panels.

Metal clad panels comprising a base sheet formed of wood, plywood,fiberboard or other base material having a metal sheet secured to oneside thereof possess qualities which make them highly adapted and usefulfor fabrication into table tops, shelving, cabinets, counters, packingcases and like products. In the fabrication of such metal clad panels,it is often necessary to form flanges along two or more sides of thepanel. In flanging the panel it is customary to cut grooves in the basesheet and then to notch out the corner of the panel so as to permit theflanges to be formed by bending the sheet metal along a line coincidentwith a groove formed in the base sheet so that the flanges will possessthe desired contour. The corner notch has heretofore been out completelythrough both the base sheet and the metal sheet so as to provide thepanel with flanges having free ends meeting substantially in abutment.The adjacent ends of the metal flanges are then welded or solderedtogether. These corner forming operations are tedious and time consumingto perform, and the corner construction is relatively weak since theends of the flanges are held together solely by the strength of the weldor solder seam.

In accordance with this invention, a machine is provided which cuts andforms the V-notch in the base sheet only, leaving the corner metal uncutand unweakened. The machine is also provided with means for crimping thecorner metal so that the corner metal can be formed into a 7 constructedin. accordance with this invention comprises a die member supported uponan operating platform or table upon which the metal clad fiberboard isplaced. The die has a crimping face for crimping the corner area of themetal sheet placed thereover. A pair of cutting or chopping knives, heldin position by suitable guideways, are pivotally mounted so that theycan be brought into cutting position over the corher of the fiberboardsheet. A pressure block is positioned over the cutting knives on whichpressure maybe exerted by a mechanical press which may be manually orpower operated. Thus the pressure block may be given a predetermineddownward stroke which drives the cutting knives into the base sheettonotch out the base sheet.

sired angle to define the shape of the cut out, for example, the cuttingknives are preferably mounted at a predetermined tilt or'angle so as tocut the ends of the, defined flanges of the base sheet on a bias so thatthe ends of the flange formations, of the basesheet will substanti-llyabut when the panelflanges are brought into their final flangedposition."

A suitable operating table or rack may be associated with the machinefor supporting the work- 7 pieces to be operated upon, the table havingsuitable adjustable guides to retain the panel workpiece in properoperating position. The pres-sure block may be so formed as to permitattachment thereof to the reciprocating member of a manually ormechanically operated press so as to permit the cutting 'andpcrimpingoperation to be performed byjrelativeily unskilled labor at highproduction speeds." g

An object of this invention is to provide an improved machinefor-cutting and crimping me al clad panels with precision and accuracy,with minimum of labor and at low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved automaticcutting and crimping machine adapted to operate upon metal clad panelsand remove 'V-shaped-sections from the base sheet andsubstantiallysimultaneously crimp the metalsection'a'dja'cent"the-cutout base sheet 'sec'tion/ r A further objectofthis'invention is to provide an improved machine for-cutting andcrimping metal clad panels-which is strong and sturdy in The guttingknives may be arranged at any d e-.

construction, simple and foolproof in operation, and whichis adapted to'perform a variety of cutting and crimping operations accurately and atrelatively highproduction speeds.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent-asthe'disclosure proceeds.

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the inventionitself, and the manner inwhich it may be carried out, may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming a, part hereof, inwhich 'i' Fig. 1 is a frontelevational view of the improved cutting andcrimping machine shown in association with a power driven press foroperating the same and a feed table for supporting the work-pieceoperated upon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine and the associatedpressand feed table, certain parts being-broken away to illustratecertain operating details thereof j Fig. 3 is a horizontal crosssectional view taken through the press along line 33 of Fig. 2; showingthe automatic cutting and crimping machine and supporting table in topelevation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the cutting and crimping machine. withcertain operating parts thereof exploded from the main part of the ma-'chine and other partssswung into a position to reveal structural;features therein? .in more. de- 7 A i 5 sected by a raised ridge line 12and sloping side tail;

Fig. 5 is a top elevational'view of the operatingparts of the cuttingand crimping machine in operating position but with the pressure-blockremoved;

Fig. 6 is a cross secti onal vie w of the machine metal a mnelsm ofj o wtin and r e: and.

' IFigf 8 is a fr agmentary perspective iview of a .metalQcladl.

ionf h sib e Performed 'f nce'jcharacters' refer to similar "'al. viewsof the drawfirmly bonded: amet sheet m.-.liIhe panel here shownsis-provided witlglgroo'ves. g which have been out into the base sheet.ugrar-idwhich meet .:or intersect adjacent; the.corneraofitheflpanel, so

H as to ldividathe panel into .acentersection c .and

' fiangeisectionsd v v a g I rThe-.ymaohine:iasgflegigned;so-as:-to:remove a V-shaped': orneretiorifronithe base sheet as v HQ I PREeQsT Q aatemQtiM- t fl me tions dthereof with mitered ends d; leaving ex- Pos rn es et mmie isthe =m 1 =ta ne sheet-.----. The metali'scorne ksection mi- -is-crimped bythe'rnachineisoz; as toeprovider' 'a 'raised ridgeextending-between;theeends d of theifiberboard flange-sections; 11.2:In: aesnb'sequents operation, not performed: rori-ithistmachineyrthetflange-sections at may-rhe-zturnechorzgbenlrinto fian'geforming "position; so rthatrtheiadiacenhendsfl of the basesheet"areesnbstantiazlimsimiabutment. iThe m'etal cornere sectiohteinfirtiszturtirerfishap'ed into a reen'forcingirib which-re'xtend'sbetween: the-ends d oiatheibasershetzandsadds substantial: cornerstrength and srigiditmatoi theiflan'gedi panel.

' The -.;:operating1mechanism of the cutting and crimpinga'machinem issuppdrted upon a heavy -l baseiplate I1 which'amayarsts upon the liedplate IQ!) of the press B. The bed plate I00 of the press 1 may rest:upon a tahl i-ranieworkil 0| supported upon stauhch legs m2 resting5onthe factory The; press comprises -=mchanism }positioned above the :baseplate I "for reciprocating a pressure b1ocl-5ll rorming ag partof 'theout sting ahdircrimping machinet the 'details ofi'which :1 will beafrnoreifullyrhereinafter de'scribed.

V The cuttingand enmpin -mgcnme comprises a die block [0 which issupportedmponithe base 1 plate l3: and afp'airffof uttingfiolades'designed T'to .cut a v shaped notehrin thedaase; sheet w of .theipanel?L'I he dieblock 'l 0; ==as shown more'particularly'iri Figs. 4 5mm 6;--'is'"pr'efera]o1y formed :xoftooli steel and' is provided with=a- V-shaped as it appears when viewed a-long' lini -6 0i Fig.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view'of a ridge II in the upper facethereof, which conforms in shape to the ridge 0 to be formed intheecorner -,metal m or; the panehworkpiece p. (The yr hapejd ridge lijljofthd dieigblock I0 is bi- ,el.of.rflat-,asupporting bars I4 whichrest upon and V 1 are secured to the base plate I and extend 'at anVtheWmetaI cladpanel being operated upon. It 'willbe'noted that the topsurface of the supr porting bars |4 are flush with the top surface of15- ithe d1e---b-1oc1 ll sdi thfat-'the meta? *f-a'ce of the metal cladpanel ma aesvsmemmy thereon A guide strip "*I 5-i's--adustably securedto -'eaoh bf t'he supporting bars lfi by means of stud b-olts I6 7extending fthroiigl i transverseslots iflthe -glfide 2 strips 'Theguide; strips- 1 53 serve' to retain the metal' clad --pan e 1;beingopera-t'ed -on in i fixed P0- 1'sition-therebetween.. I 7

A-pair off-"cutting? "knives? 2fl iwhich operate-to notch out the-basesheet are eachgpiVote'tllysupported-ion a pivot block -21 fixed "to thebase-"plate I; Each cutting-knife 20 is"d-i rectl y-supported-on "abosselement z 2;a hingebiolt 23 extends through the end of the-cuttingknife and the bosselement operativeposition as?shownati-Lthe right hand4o side-of 4 so 'that pressuremust' bev exerted a n the cutting'knife'ton aintain thesame incutting' position' as' shown' on th left hand"side'- "of Fig. 4. It will be noted thatFea'chcuttingknife mis-inclinedso' that' its dutt-ihg dg 3 twhen in perativeposition;willqal-ign withthe groove 13' the die-blocki as shown.moremarticularly in Fi'gFBJ It wil-l b appreciated that' the pivot'face 28 ofeach pivot: bIocR -ZI ahd 'the corresponding face o'f theboss portion 2-2g=are -'so shaped and inou fcliried a's to guidetheoiitting edg ll of ea'ch-knif e ihtd-alignment with the groove l3 inthe die b'lo'ck {I0.q-Asshowmrnore rpartioularly iiiFi'g. 4, each" knife20 is provided with; a stel saddle" 33 'atta'ched to the back edgetherof against which 1substantial downward pressuremawbe applied to:fforce the outting edg 3 h f th klnife 'into and through thebase'sheet; Y To bra'ce each -kriife'2ll in its I proper inclinedposition during the cutting "-operationg a" gu ideibloclr 35 -isprovided; affixed to ione end of ar arrfi 36 w os e' o'ther end ispivotally mounted'on ajhi-Irge pi l -whose ends are suppor-ted"infbearirig -blooks 38 a ffixed'to "the base 'plate'" I. "'[Ihe'hingepm? 3'l="*extends through a 'slelv 4 39 integrally formed-on -t-heend-of the arm 35. S A coil spring Ml,"-one end of"which'-rests uponand-is secured to the baseplate li hasftheupper end'thereofarrangedto-chear against and-support l the ar1fi 36 inraised;inoperativeposition-as shown 4 jatithe left hand side of Fig. 4Thearm -36'shown at the irightihand' si defo m completely off from the*ooil sp'ring 40 to 'illustrate further details of the construotion.

When the guid' block 1135 is in' operative position, as shownj'more'particularly. inEig, 6', ;the

lowerend t'kl iere ehf will restagainstthetop sur 7viangleetoatheediezziblock I0, provide a support for 1.11 s e sw n faceof the base sheet w of the metal clad panel being operated upon. Thelower edge 4| of the guide block 35 is preferably beveled as shown inFig. 6 so as to smoothly seat on the base sheet w. The inside face ofthe guide block 35 may be notched out as at 42 to provide a pocket whichreceives the saddle'33 attached to the cutting blade 20, the raisedfaces'43of the guide block 35 providing a smooth seat for the adjacentfaces of the cutting blade '20. The guide blocks 35 are held inoperative position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by the pressure block 50shown in Fig. 6. To further hold each blade guide block 35 in properinclined operative position, an abutment block 44 is provided which isattached to the base plate I and which is provided with an inclined face45 against which the back side of the guide block 35 is adapted to seat,thereby supporting guide block 35 and the cuttingblade 20 improperinclined position.

To prevent the free ends 34 of the cutting blades from spreading apart,a strut member 46 formed of heavy steel extends transversely between thepanel supporting bars I4 and is secured thereto by bolts 41 extendinginto threaded holes 41 in the bars I4. The inner face of the strut 46has attached thereto a pair of spaced side blocks 48, having a centralwedge shaped block 49 positioned between the side blocks 40. The sideblocks 48 and the intermediate wedge block 49 define therebetween a pairof inclined grooves 49' in which the free ends 34 of the cutting blades30 are adapted to move. Thus the grooves 40 maintain the ends 34of thecutting knives 20 in proper inclined position and further assist theguide blocks 35 in supporting and maintaining the cutting knives 20 inproper inclined position.

Downward cutting pressure is exerted upon the cutting blades 20 by meansof the pressure block 50 which comprises a heavy-block member 5| havingan attaching stud 52 projecting upwardly therefrom. The under surface ofthe block member 5| is provided with a pair of downwardly projecting camelements 53 each having a cam surface 54 adapted to rest upon and bearagainst the saddles 33 attached to the cuttingblades 20. The camsurfaces 54 are so shaped as to exert a combined downward and laterallyinclined pressure on the blade saddles 33 and associated cutting blades30, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6. Thus when downwardpressure is applied to the block member 5|, the blade saddles 33 willslide transversely across the cam surface 54 so as to exert a lateraldownward pressure on the cutting blades 30 so that the ends d of theflanges d of the base sheet are cut on a bias. The cutting blades 30 areso pivoted and arranged that a V-shaped section of desired shape is cutfrom the corner of the base sheet. A pair of coil compression springs 55may be provided to normally lift and retain the pressure member 5| inraised inoperative position, each compression spring 55 having the lowerend thereof seating within a suitable socket 56 provided in the baseplate I, and the upper end thereof being attached to a stud 5'!projecting downwardly from the pressure member 5|. Thus when no load ordownward pressure is exerted upon the pressure member 5|, the coilsprings 55 will maintain the pressure member 5| in raised position sothat the cutting edges 3| of the cutting blades 30 may be raised abovethe metal clad panel being operated upon, thus permitting successiveremoval and reinsertion of the metal clad panels into the machine. Itwill be appreciated that the steel springs 25 associated with thecutting knives 20 exert a lifting force thereon when the downwardpressure exerted on the blade saddles 30 is removed, the steel springs25 at all times retaining the blade saddles 30 in contact with the camsurfaces 54 of the pressure member 5|. It will be further noted that theguide blocks 35 are at all times under the lifting influence of thecompression springs 40 so that the lower ends 4| of the guide blocks 35will rise away from the work piece panel p along with the risingmovement of the cutting blades 20. Since the saddle 33 of each blade 20is snugly pocketed within the recess 42 of the adjacent guide block 35,the guide block 35 will follow the reciprocating movement of theassociated cutting blade 20 and the saddle 33 will carry the guide block35 downward into seating contact with the base sheet w of the panelworkpiece p when pressure is applied to the blade saddle 33 by thepressure block 50.

The pressure block 50 may be given the desired reciprocating movement byany desired mechanical means such as the mechanical press B illustratedin Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The mechanical press here shown comprises a pair ofspaced upright standards I03 which rest upon the table frame I0 I, thestandards being connected at their upper end by a yoke frame I04. Aslide frame I05 is arranged to reciprocate between the standards I03.The slide frame I05 has a collar I 06 formed therewith, having aninterior socket I01 into which the stud 52 of the pressure block may beinserted. Suitable set screws I08 or other devices may be provided toretain the stud 52 in the socket I0I. The pressure member 5| mat seatagainst the lower face of the slide frame I05 so as to transmit thedownward force exerted by the slide frame I05 directly against, thepressure member 5 I The slide frame may b reciprocated by any desiredmechanism. As shown in Figs-1 and 2 for purposes of illustration, powermeans for reciprocating the slide frame I05 may comprise a crank shaft 0journaled in bearings |II, associated with the supporting standards I03,and a center bearing 2 supported from the yoke frame I04. One end of thecrank shaft 0 may be provided with a balancing flywheel pulley 3 aroundwhich a drive belt may be turned, and the other end provided with afriction brake I M. A pair of pistons I|5 are attached at one endthereof to the crank shaft III) and at the other end thereof to theslide frame I05 by means of hinge pins I I5.

The metal clad panel to be operated upon may be additionally supportedon any suitable table. There is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 a tableplate C whose upper surface may be in the same horizontal plane as thetop surface of the panel supporting bars I4 of the cutting and crimpingmachine. Table C may be supported at the desired elevation by meansofstuds I30 which project upwardly from the bed plate I00 of the press Band held in place by screws I 3|. Thus the metal clad panel to beoperated upon may rest on the table 0 and the supporting bars I4, theside edges of the panel being pushed against the guide strips I5 whichhave been so adjusted as to insure that the corner of the panel has beenplaced in proper operative position upon the die block II].

It is important that the reciprocating movement of the pressure block 50be under the immediate control Of. the Op rator. A clutch I20 endsqfllthereoh eat a ainststhe top :suriaceof the panel. .n'Ihe downwardpressureexented yrthe of the control-bolt I21 is normally held inengage- V ment withzthe clutch 120 by means of a compression spring123;: When the control boltI2I is in engagement with the .clut'ch-"lnthe crankshaft I I does not rotate, and when the control bolt I2Iisxwithdrawnfromwengagemen't with the clutch I20 the crankshaft .I I0will'make one complete revolution and reciprocate the slide frame I02one. complete stroke. The friction brake I 4 is adjusted topreventfurther rotation of the crank shaftl II! when disengaged by the clutchI29 from' the'drive'wheel I I3.-' The lower end of the control bolt'I2l.- is conneotedkto -'a control rod I25 connected to a foot lever I26,'one end ofwhich'is pivotally mounted asby pin I21 to the adjacent legof the press. A foot pad I28 is attached to the other end of thefootlever I 26'and is conveniently arrangedso [that the foot lever I26may be depressed by-the foot ofthe operator to withdraw the control boltI21 from engagement-with the clutch 20;

To notch and crimpthemetal clad panel shown in Fig. 8, theoperatorplaces the panel upon the table G and the supporting bars Id,pushing the adjacent 'side-edges-of the panel against the previouslyadjusted guide strips-I5. The corner oithe panel' to be operated onshould then be properly'posi-tioned uponthe die block UL At this pointthe slideframe I05 of the press B is in its full raised position andthepressure member fil o'f thepressure block- 50 is held in raisedposition by-the coil springs 55. The cutting knives 29 will'alsobeheldin raised position so that the cutting edges 3I-' thereof are out ofcontact with the panel to be operated upon, the knives 20 being held inraisedposition by the steel springs 25 The'knives 2a in this raisedposition, however, will have the-saddles 33 mounted thereon in contactwith thecam-surfaces 54 of the cams '53 forming a partof-thepress'ure-block 504 I When the panel has been placed in properoperative position beneath the cutting blades 20 and properly restingupon the die block ID; the operator steps on'the foot pad I28 ofthe'foot lever I26; thereby withdrawing the control'bolt I2I' fromengagement with the clutch I20. The drive wheel I I3 then willrotate thecamshaft I I0 one complete revolution,-;the operator removing his footfrom the-f00t pad I28 so that the control bolt I2! will manipulate theclutch I20 so as to disengage the drive wheel H3 from'the cam shaft III]when the camshaft I I0 has made one complete revolutionn It will benoted that the cut-ting knives 20; driving the cutting edges 3I' on thecutting knives2i! through the base sheet to of the panel to form thedesired V-shapednotch V cut-out therein. Down-Ward movement of thecutting knives 20- also exerts pressure on the bracingor guiding--blocks:35 so that-the beveled metal corner esectiom oucontormi yswithhe shapeof =the veshapcdiridge jI in,- -the di t block I 0.Themetaleorner-is crimpe an shaped as illustratedainfiigsefi andsam rAsthe cam-shafitfcontinues;itsz complete revolu- 7 tion the: slide-1frame VIQ5zis;raised,'rpermitting the pressure member} Iltolrise-tunderf the. influence of the: coil; springstiil': V Withzthe;rising. :movement of thepressure member-5 I; the downward pressureexerted on the cutting. knivesifl'is also released, permitting thesteeksprings25:to'raise.the: knives 2 0 out of contact-with the paneloperated upon. Thusit :will 'be appreciatedvthat thecpan el is bothnotched-.4 and crim-ped-iby asingle'i stroke of, r

the slide frame lflfi of thepressB and vthe entire operation=-iscompletedin: a matter of a new seconds. By the use of the machine asherein described metal clad panels: can be not'ched and crimped withprecision and accuracy at highpro ductiorr speed bya'relativelyuntrain'ed' operator; Metal clad panels to-be operated uponmay be moved-into position under the cutting knives, the operationperformed-thereon and the-panels removed inrapid succession; The baseplate I of the cutting and crimping machine is placed upon the baseblock lllflof the-'pressat the correct elevation so that the downwardstroke of the press causes the cutting blades 20 to completely outthrough the base sheet without damage or injuryto the metalfacingsheet-of the-paneh r 7 By the use of" a, dic -block having ridgeformations of-desired shape and-by arranging the cutting knives-- 20; atthe' desired angle, V-shaped notches may be-cut in the base sheet andcrimps formed in the metal sheet-of any desired shape or contourbestsui-ted to the finished work to be performed.- ,By the use-of; thisimproved cutting and crimping machine metal clad panels maybepreparedfon-flanging ina manner to greatly simplify -the flangingoperation later to be performed, insuring a flanged panel havingextremelystrongcorners-- with ythe flanges extending accurately-at thedesired angle.

While certain novel features 'of the invention have been disclosedherein; and are pointed out in the annexed claims; it 3will beunderstoodthat various omissions, substitutions and changes may be madebythose-skilled iii-the art-without-departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What-isolaimcd is:-- V

1 A machine for notching; panels including in combination,- asuppor-tfor'the panel, a pair of hinged =outting-elements movable intocutting positionover: the panel,==apressureblock having a pressureface-positioned= adjacent the cutting edge of each 'of said cuttingelements adapted to be pressed againstthe-panehduring the cutting 7 ofsaidtiicuttingekniveszedapted toi be pressed against-.the.panel,;andpressure means for apply-- ingepressureltollsaid hing-ed Lknives to.drive, the

cutting edges thereof into the panel and simultaneously press thepressure face of said pressure blocks firmly against the panel.

3. A machine for notching panels including in combination, a support forthe panel, a pair of hinged cutting knives, means for guiding thehinging movement of said knives at an inclined angle with respect to thepanel, a pair of pressure blocks having pressure faces adjacent thecutting edges of said cutting knives adapted to be pressed against thepanel, and pressure means for applying pressure to said hinged knives todrive the cutting edges thereof into the panel and simultaneously pressthe pressure face of said pressure blocks firmly against the panel.

4. A machine for notching and crimping metal clad panels of the typecomprising a metal sheet secured to a base sheet, said machine includingin combination, a die block having a preformed die face upon which themetal face of the panel may be supported, a pair of hinged cuttingknives movable into position over the base sheet of the panel supportedupon said die block, guide elements adapted to rest on the base sheetand guide the cutting movement of said knives, and a reciprocablepressure device operative to exert downward pressure on said knives tocut the base sheet and press the adjacent section of the metal sheetinto shaping contact with the die face of said die block.

5. A machine, for notching and crimping metal clad panels of the typecomprising a metal sheet secured to a base sheet, said machine includingin combination, a die block having a preformed die face upon which themetal face of the panel may be supported, a pair of hinged cuttingknives movable into position over the base sheet of the panelsupportedupon said die block, resilient means for normally retainingsaid cutting knives out of contact with the panel, guide blocks adaptedto rest on the base sheet and guide the cutting movement of said knivesat an inclined angle with respect to the paneL and a reciprocablepressure block operative to exert downward pressure on said knives tocut the base sheet and press the adjacent section of the metal sheetinto shaping contact with the die face of said die block.

6. A machine for notching and crimping metal clad panels of the typecomprising a metal sheet secured to a base sheet, said machine includingin combination, a die block having a preformed die face upon which themetal face of the panel may be supported, a pair of resiliently hingedcutting knives movable into position over the base sheet of the panelsupported upon said die block, a pair of resiliently hinged guide blocksadapted to rest on the base sheet and guide the cutting movement of saidknives, and a reciprocable pressure block having cam surfaces operativeto exert downwardly inclined pressure on said knives to cut the basesheet and press the adjacent section of the metal sheet into shapingcontact with the die face of said die block.

7. A machine for notching and crimping metal clad panels of the typewhich comprises a metal sheet secured to a base sheet, said machineincluding in combination, a die block having a preformed die face forcrimping a section of the metal sheet, a pair of hinged cutting knivesmovable into position over the base sheet adjacent said die face, guideblocks for guiding the hinging movement of said knives at an inclinedangle with respect to the panel,1 a reciprocable pressure block havingcam means operative to drive '10 the cutting edges of said knives intothe base sheet at an inclined angle and press the adjacent section ofthe metal sheet into shaping conformity with the die face of said dieblock.

8. A machine for notching and crimping metal clad panels of the typewhich comprises a metal sheet secured to a. base sheet, said machineincluding in combination, a dieblock having a preformed die face forcrimping a section of the metal sheet, means for supporting the panel inoperative position, hingedly mounted cutting knives movable intoposition over the base sheet adjacent said die face, hingedly mountedguide blocks for guiding the hinging movement of said knives at aninclined angle with respect to the panel, spring elements forresiliently supporting said knives and guide blocks in inoperativeposition, and a reciprocable pressure block having cam means operativeto drive the cutting edges of said knives into the base sheet at aninclined angle and press the adjacent section of the metal sheet intoshaping conformity with the die face of said die block.

9. A machine for notching and crimping metal clad panels of the typewhich comprise a metal sheet secured to a base sheet, said machineincluding in combination, a die block naving a preformed die face forcrimping a section of the metal sheet, means for supporting the panel inoperative position, hingedly mounted cutting knives movable intoposition over the base sheet adjacent said die face, hingedly mountedguide blocks for guiding the hinging movement of said knives at aninclined angle with respect to the panel, spring elements forresiliently supporting said knives and guide blocks in inoperativeposition, a reciprocable pressure block having cam means operative todrive the cutting edges of said knives into the base sheet at aninclined angle and press the adjacent section of the metal sheet intoshaping conformity with the die face of said die block, a mechanicalpress for reciprocating said pressure block, and means for controllingthe stroke of said press.

10. A machine for notching panels including in combination, a supportfor the panel, a pair of cutting knives movable into cutting engagementwith the panel, means to guide the cutting movement of said knives at aninclined angle to the face of the panel whereby the panel edges severedby the cutting edges of said knives will be inclined with respect to theface of the panel, a pressure block having a pressure face positionedadjacent the cutting edge of. each of said cutting knives adapted to bepressed. against the panel during the cutting operation, a pair of camelements having inclined cam faces extending transversely of the planeof said knives, and means for exerting pressure on said cam elements todrive the cutting edges of said knives into the panel and simultaneouslypress the pressure face of said pressure blocks firmly against thepanel.

11. A machine for notching panels including in combination, a supportfor the panel, a pair of cutting knives, means for mounting said cuttingknives in a manner whereby the cutting edges thereof when in cuttingposition define a substantially triangular shaped area therebetween,means to guide the cutting movement of said knives at an inclined angleto the face of the panel whereby the panel edges severed by said kniveswill be inclined with respect to the face of the panel, a saddle fixedto each of said knives, a cam element for each of said knives having-acam face adapted to ride on said knife saddle, a pressure block hav-

